SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
MASTER OF JUSTICE, LAW AND SOCIETY (33 Semester Hours)
The M.S. in Justice, Law and Society is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the foundations and
structure of institutions of justice and law. Students receive a thorough grounding in empirical and
theoretical approaches to public policy issues. Four concentrations are offered.
Admission to the Program
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit scores for the Graduate
Record Examination. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of scholastic achievement in their last 60 credit hours of
undergraduate work, test scores, and two letters of recommendation.
Concentrations
Justice and Public Policy provides theoretical grounding in criminology and coursework in criminal justice, including
corrections and policing. This concentration prepares students for a variety of practitioner and research positions in criminal
justice or for advanced graduate work in criminology or criminal justice.
Terrorism and Security Policy focuses on issues of national security from the perspectives of criminology and criminal justice.
This concentration prepares students for a variety of practitioner and research positions in the area of the prevention and control
of terrorism.
Law and Society provides interdisciplinary perspectives on the role oflaw in society, including the theoretical foundations of law,
the relationship between law and the social sciences, and broad issues of social justice. This concentration prepares students for
positions in policy research and analysis or for advanced graduate work in law and society.
Jurisprudence and Social Thought emphasizes philosophical and comparative perspectives on law, providing students with an
appreciation of the nature and structural foundations oflaw and a firm grounding in analytical thought. This concentration serves
students who have a background in either the liberal arts or law and are interested in combining the two.
Degree Requirements
A total of 33 credit hours of approved graduate course work, 18 of which must be at the 600 level. The following must be
completed:
• Two foundation courses (Chosen from the following):
o JLS-601 Law and Social Sciences
o JLS-602 Legal Theory
o JLS-607 Concept of Justice
o JLS-609 Criminological Theory
o JLS-610 Current Controversial Issues in Justice and Public Policy
o JLS-672 Terrorism, Crime and Public Policy
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Four courses within your specific area of concentration (12 credits): Justice and Public Policy, Terrorism and Security
Policy, Law and Society, or Jurisprudence and Social Thought.
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Three electives chosen from other courses offered within the department (9 credits). Electives may also be chosen from
other departments, but must be approved prior.
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There is also a research requirement for all Master’s candidates, which must be completed with a grade of B or better.
o For the Jurisprudence and Social Thought Concentration:
 JLS-604 Rule of Law and Due Process (3 credits)
 JLS-603 Foundations of Knowledge (3 credits)
o For all other concentrations
 JLS-680 or 681 Introduction to Justice Research (6 credits)
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One three hour comprehensive written exam in one of the four areas of concentration: Justice and Public Policy,
Terrorism and Security Policy, Law and Society, or Jurisprudence and Social Thought. Students must complete
foundation courses and electives in the relevant area before taking the examination.
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Justice and Public Policy Concentration
JLS 680 Introduction to Justice Research I and JLS·681 Introduction to Justice Research II with grades of B or better
Four courses (12 credits) selected from the following list:
o JLS-504 Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
o JLS-517 Victimology
o JLS-526 Domestic Violence
o JLS-550 Drugs, Crime and Public Policy
o JLS-596 Selected Topics in Justice and Public Policy
o JLS-607 Concept of Justice
o JLS-608 The Constitution and Criminal Procedure
o JLS-609 Criminological Theory
o JLS-610 Current Controversial Issues in Justice and Public Policy
o JLS-638 Race and Justice in America
o JLS-643 Advanced Seminar in Policing
o JLS-672 Terrorism, Crime, and Public Policy
o JLS-676 Theories of Punishment
o JLS-686 Advanced Seminar in Corrections
o JLS-687 Law, Deviance and the Mental Health System
Nine additional credits selected from other courses offered by the department, or from the following list:
o GOVT-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis
o PUAD-610 Public Management
o PUAD-633 Public Financial Management
o PUAD-616 Legal Issues in Public Management
o PUAD-654 Managing Organizational Change
Terrorism and Security Policy Concentration
JLS-680 Introduction to Justice Research Iand JLS-681 Introduction to Justice Research II with grades of B or better
Twelve credit hours selected from the following list, or from other courses relevant to security policy and approved by
the department:
o JLS-585 Topics in Terrorism and Security Policy (multiple topics may be used for credit)
o JLS-608 Constitution and Criminal Procedure
o JLS-610 Justice and Public Policy
o JLS-621 Justice in the Face of Terror
o JLS-643 Advanced Seminar in Policing
o JLS-615 Law and Human Rights
Nine additional credit hours selected from the following list, or from other approved courses in Justice, Law and Society:
o COMM-541 Crisis Communication
o GOVT-529 Principles of National Security
o JLS-607 Concept of Justice
o JLS-608 Constitution and Criminal Procedure
o REL-675 Religion and Violence
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: Countering Terrorism
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: U.S. National Security Strategy
o S1S-653 US Policy Toward Weak States
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: National Security and Proliferation
o SIS-653 Transnational Security Challenges
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: Bioterror in the 21 st Century
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: Homeland Security
o SIS-653 US Foreign Policy: USFP toward the Middle East
o SIS 610 Theory of Conflict, Violence and War
o SIS 619 International Security
o S1S-619 Transnational Crime and Terrorism
o SIS-619 Cybercrime, Espionage, Warfare
o SIS-619 Corruption, Development & Democracy
o SIS-619 Political Risk Analysis
o SIS-619 Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
o SIS 609 Conflict Analysis and Resolution
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Law and Society Concentration
JLS-680 Introduction to Justice Research I and JLS-681 Introduction to Justice Research II with grades of B or better
Twelve credit hours selected from the following list:
o JLS-535 Gender and the Law
o JLS-596 Selected Topics in Law & Society
o JLS-601 Law and Social Sciences
o JLS-602 Legal Theory
o JLS-603 Rule of Law and Due Process
o JLS-604 Foundations ofK.nowledge
o JLS-606 Legal History Seminar
o JLS-607 Concept of Justice
o JLS-608 Constitution and Criminal Procedure
o JLS-610 Current Controversial Issues in Justice and Public Policy
o JLS-615 Law and Human Rights
o JLS-650 Constitutionalism in Historical Perspective
o JLS-630 Advanced Seminar in Legal Theory
o JLS-631 Advanced Seminar in Political and Social Theory
o JLS-638 Race and Justice in America
o JLS-648 Law and Religion
o JLS-676 Theories of Punishment
o JLS-797 Master's Thesis Research (with permission of department)
Nine additional credit hours selected from other courses offered by the department or from the following list:
o HIST-651 Era of the Revolution and Constitution
o SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order
o GOVT-674 Constitutional Law and Politics
o PHIL-520 Seminar in Ethics
o PHIL-525 Seminar in Modem Moral Problems
o PHIL-641 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
o GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying
o GOVT-540 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Lobbying
o GOVT-541 The Politics of Mass Communication
Jurisprudence and Social Thought Concentration
JLS 603 Rule of Law and Due Process and JLS 604 Foundations of Knowledge with grades of B or better
Twelve credits selected from Law and Society electives
Nine additional credit hours selected from other courses offered by department or from the following list:
o HIST-651 Era of the Revolution and Constitution
o SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order
o GOVT-674 Constitutional Law and Politics
o PHIL-520 Seminar in Ethics
o PHIL-525 Seminar in Modem Moral Problems
o PHIL-641 Philosophy of the Social Sciences